Vin De Dance (left) beats Mongolianconqueror in the Vodafone NZ Derby at Ellerslie last month. Photo / Trish Dunell
Murray Baker's Derby magic has extended all the way to the draws for Saturday's A$2 million Australian Derby in Sydney.
Because the Derby King got the ideal draws for three of his four runners he and training partner Andrew Forsman take to the classic, with even the seemingly bad one actually possibly good.
The Cambridge pair have been the Derby dominators on both sides of the Tasman in the last three seasons, with Baker's freakish record in the classic extending back two decades.
Since Mongolian Khan won the NZ-Australian Derby double three seasons ago, they have snared another ATC Derby with Jon Snow last season and this year's Vodafone Derby at Ellerslie with Vin De Dance.
Even by their standards having four in Australasia's richest Derby is remarkable and the chances of the quartet were largely boosted by yesterday's draw.
Weather With You, who led when a brave third in the final lead-up Tulloch Stakes last Saturday, has drawn the ace while Vin De Dance, who likes to race handy has barrier four.
Mission Hill, who would ideally sit midfield for Damian Lane, has the ideal barrier (9) while Baker even sees positives in Mongolian Marshal drawing the outside gate.
"When Craig Williams got off him on Saturday (fourth) he said he is probably better being ridden back in the field, so if one of them had to cop a wide barrier he is probably the one best suited," admits Baker.
"But the others have all pretty much drawn exactly where you would want them and after that I can't split them.
"They are all fit and healthy and they now get their chance.
"Sure, some rain would help because I think that tends to suit our ones better than the Aussies and slows everybody down by a few seconds.
"But I also think there isn't a really dominant Australian three-year-old this season, especially with D'Argento going to the Doncaster.
"Aim High is a good horse and maybe even the best horse in the race but we have four genuine hopes so we will just have to see who puts their hand up."
Pressured a bit harder Baker admits the strength of Vin De Dance could be a crucial factor.
"He is very physically strong horse, as we saw at Ellerslie and should be able to race handy to the speed now."
With Endowment (Chris Gibbs) and Mongolianconqueror (Te Akau) also in the race New Zealand has six serious Derby hopes and Baker says that is not only reflective of breeding but the advantage of having the Vodafone Derby at Ellerslie in March.
"In the old days when the Derby at Ellerslie was on Boxing Day we had to get them up and the reset them for this Derby and it wasn't as ideal," he offers.
"But now the Derby in March is almost perfect for getting them here with that advantage of having raced over the distance.
"I was talking to Darren Beadman the other day and he was saying our three-year-olds have a real leg up with the programming before they come here." While Baker was beaming about at least three of his four draws for Saturday, Chris Gibbs was taking a pragmatic approach to Endowment drawing barrier 16, even though it will become barrier 14 if the emergencies come out.
"There isn't a lot we can do about it but I think he is still likely to go forward," says Gibbs.
"He is better on the speed and Ollie [Damien Oliver] admitted it wasn't his best ride when he got too far back in the Rosehill Guineas.
"But he is well, almost too well. He galloped with Mongolianconqueror today [yesterday] and they both worked well, good stayer's work.
"But I will give him another good gallop on Thursday to keep on top of him."
Meanwhile, Baker confirmed Avondale Cup winner Zacada is likely to contest the A$2 million Sydney Cup on Saturday week. "He travels over this Wednesday [today] and races in the Chairmans this Saturday with Michael Dee to ride him," says Baker. "And all going well he will head to the Sydney Cup with maybe Michael on him again.
"He has earned his crack, will only have to carry 50.5kgs in the Cup and would come right into it on a wet track."
1 5546 Ace High (2) T Angland 56.5
2 6314 Vin De Dance (4) J L Waddell 56.5
3 X602 Tangled (10) M J Walker 56.5
4 2728 Mongolianconqueror (6) O P Bosson 56.5
5 0090 Capital Gain (14) B Melham 56.5
6 5021 Levendi (3) M Zahra 56.5
7 3242 Astoria (5) G Schofield 56.5
8 1113 Furore (8) B Avdulla 56.5
9 X294 Salsamor (19) Z Purton 56.5
10 X553 Weather With You (1) J R Collett 56.5
11 1640 The Lord Mayor (18) 56.5
12 1567 Mission Hill (9) Damian Lane 56.5
13 4850 Endowment (16) D Oliver 56.5
14 2435 Belfast (17) K Mc Evoy 56.5
15 2114 Mongolian Marshal (20) Craig Williams 56.5
16 X400 Main Stage (12) 56.5
17 1280 Condor (15) C Newitt 56.5
18 4950 Pissaro (13) 56.5
Emergencies:
19 1319 Yuralla Boy (7) 56.5
20 2210 Love Waves (11) 56.5